And Hugh did not answer!  She rapped again and—­no response.  The calm voice of the stranger came to her reddening ears.

“The gentleman who occupies that room just passed me, going on deck.  Straight ahead.  That’s right.”  He called the last injunction after her swiftly departing form.

“Thank you,” came back to him with a breath between the words.  Hugh met her at the bottom of the steps.  She rushed recklessly toward him and cried,

“Oh, you don’t know how glad I am to see you.  Where have you been, Hugh Ridgeway—­”

“Sh!  Ridge without the ‘way.’  For Heaven’s sake, don’t forget that.  It’s every bit as important on this ship as on the other.  I’ve been on deck for a look.  Say, are you all right?  Are you still glad you’re alive?” He was holding her hands and looking into her eyes.

“Of course I am.  What a ridiculous question!  None but the good die young, and I’m not very good or I wouldn’t be running away with you.  But come,—­take me on deck.  Is it raining?  Why, your coat is wet.  Hurry, Hugh; I want to take a good look,” she cried, dragging him up the steps hilariously.  A peculiar smile came to his face as he followed her to the deck.

Neither spoke for a full minute, she gazing dumbly at the bleak waste before her, he lovingly at her pretty, bewildered face.

“Where are we, Hugh?” she finally asked, terrified for the moment.  “Where is London?”

“You are not afraid, are you, dearest?” he whispered, his strong arm stealing about her.  “We are on the bounding main, ticketed for a port thousands of miles away.  London is back there,” pointing astern.

She placed her hand in his and looked out over the waters.  Nothing but rain, leaden sky and rolling waves.  What her thoughts were during the silence that followed he learned when she turned to him again, looking imploringly into his eyes.

“Hugh, you will always be good to me?”

“So long as I live, sweetheart,” he said, pressing her hand firmly.  For some time they stood alone and silent beneath the awning which covered the promenade, the sleety rain pattering dismally over their heads.  But few of the passengers were above deck.  Several officers were chatting at the end of the deck-house.

“We have not breakfasted yet, Grace, and I’m as hungry as a bear.  Isn’t it a relief, dear, not to feel the necessity any longer of keeping a sharp lookout for detectives?  Those days on the Atlantic, every other man I met I thought was a sleuth-hound bent on capturing the million-dollar reward that has been offered for our capture by Chicago society.”

They went below and found the dining saloon almost deserted.  Two or three late risers were drinking a last cup of coffee.  Then she told him of the mistake she had made, and together they scanned their fellow-passengers in search of the man who occupied the stateroom adjoining hers on the left.  He did not appear for luncheon or dinner, and Hugh cheerfully accused her of murdering him.